Crop reporting deadline nears

Date is July 15

June 24, 2013

Due to Northwest Iowa's weather creating delays in the planting of crops this spring , the Emmet County Farm Service Agency reminds farmers that the July 15 deadline to timely file 2013 crop planting certifications as well as report prevented plant acreage, is rapidly approaching.

"Farmers, who have completed their 2013 crop plantings and finalized their prevented planting intentions, should report that information to their local FSA office as soon as possible," said Larry Lago, County Executive Director for the Dickinson and Emmet County FSA offices. "Because of the late spring, the number of annual crop certifications completed by farmers at the FSA Office by this time of year is also well behind normal."

Continual wet field conditions have created complications for area farmers as well as caused further delays in completing intended crop plantings however crop reports are still required to be timely completed by farmer/producers to ensure they maintain maximum eligibility for FSA benefits for USDA farm programs like, Direct and Counter-cyclical Program, Conservation Reserve Program and Price Support loans. Accurate and timely acreage reports with planting dates for all crops and land uses including individual crop field by field reporting needs to be certified for each farm by July 15 at the FSA Office.

With so much of the counties crops covered by crop insurance, farmers should always first consult with their crop insurance agent to determine what are the best options according to their insurance coverage particularly when it relates to fields that had been intended on getting planted but could not get timely planted because of natural causes. After consulting with the crop insurance agent, the farmer should then be sure to file an acreage report with FSA as well as any applicable prevented planting claim. To report prevented planting to FSA, producers must complete Form CCC-576, Notice of Loss for interested crops. Reporting prevented or failed acreage to FSA will ensure compliance with current farm programs, and possible eligibility for future disaster programs.

If any producer fails to meet the July 15 deadline for certifying planted crops, prevented plantings, or failed crop reports, they still should immediately contact the FSA office as soon as possible to determine if their eligibility for farm program benefits can be restored.

Producers are encouraged to contact the Emmet County FSA office at 712-362-7221 or visit FSA's website at www.fsa.usda.gov for additional information regarding timely filing acreage reports or any other FSA programs.